ABSTRACT
Refugees 1 have long been a feature of British society and in some inner London areas they make up a significant proportion of the total population. In the London Borough of Newham, estimates place the number of refugees at around 20,000 which is more than 9 per cent of the total population. Refugees in Newham, like refugees generally, come from diverse backgrounds and therefore bring with them a range of pre-migration characteristics and experiences. However, once within Britain, refugees experience many of the same disadvantages when it comes to settling in the host society. Some of the difficulties faced by refugees are associated with the experience of exile, some are the result of national policies and some are due to racism and discrimination.
